They are really the only two things I can think of comparing this bike ride to.
You see two people dancing a tango and they look like a single idea flowing through the passion of the music. Their dance is rhythmic, exciting, provocative - but beyond the shuffle, the battle, or the angst they share one idea and one axis.
And nothing is more American or more symbolic of breaking free than riding full tilt on a horse.
I've had the thrill of reaching 40 mph (and up) going downhill on my bike - I know how freeing the wind in your hair can feel. But it's that moment while riding when you almost feel like coming alive. There is no differentiation of bike and rider. You shift and climb and shift and gain - all in one motion and all as one soul.
Before Ironman, the longest I had ridden was 80 miles (about 5 1/2 hours), so obstacle number two after the swim was seeing how well I had trained for this kind endurance: 112 miles.
Breakdown commence:
1-10 "I FINISHED THE SWIM".... oh my gosh, tears trickle out, "I am on my bike", mini butt dance while riding (note there is not a single soul around since I am way behind the pack!)
10.5 THUD - lost my waterbottle full of perpetium, CRAP 500 calories spattered on the road
12 Aid station, water never tasted so good since **Happy DANCE** it's not lake water because "I finished the swim!"
13 - 20 I feel good, good pace, I forgot how amazing riding outside was since I trained all year indoor on a trainer
21 I've passed a lot of people, **EGO BOOST!!**
23 Aid station - grab banana, drop banana, grab banana, drop banana, damn it, grab banana, unclip, stop, eat banana, do a little dance while clipping in to "B-A-N-A-N-A-N-A"
24 That songs makes no sense, pass more people
25 - 30 I GET TO SEE MY FAMILY SOON!
31- 42 family, family, pass people, family
43 FAMILY!!!!!! Make sharp turn and take deep breathe because I almost wiped out infront of family!
45 Aid station - learned lesson, pull to side, unclip one foot and stop, ask for water, tip over and fall on face (embarassing), explain to every person wearing a volunteer shirt in a mile radius "I'm ok, just tipped over", regain pride, ride away with water
46 - 60 find rhythm, find pace, find center, remember exactly why you love biking so much
60-70 ish, start back towards the woodlands - HEADWIND. Really!?
71 ish, oh this is what they meant when they said a hilly course. Really!?
72 ish, invent new game - pass people on the climb! Not only will they feel bad about being passed but if it's on a hill it's like, "Oh yeah, I'm bad ass enough to not only pass you in an IM but pass you on a hill!?"
73 ish, still continue to play the game knowing they will most likely eventually pass you again in the run
80 ok, undiscovered territory - and I still am feeling amazing
90 You've got this on lock, hill, yup, still got it
96 Pee stop - While waiting in a 3 deep line for the two porta pots I'm offered a hamburger or a hot dog from the volunteer of the aid station. Apparently, last year the station had pulled pork sandwiches! Legit. Yell at the people in the porta pot "Hurry up!" only to be informed that the man in front of me is not in line to pee. Lose all respect for the man in front of me that just shared way too much and yell again "Hurry up I don't want to use the porta pot after his guy!"
100 Tell a complete stranger they are the witness to your first 100 mile bike ride as you pass him in a giddy state of euphoria
110 Seriously!?
111 Yup
112 Shit. Now I run a marathon.
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(I stole the pic from the race photo website, shhhh! I'll buy them eventually, promise!)
